Top Shelf Chic: The wonderful world and style of vintage glamour magazines…
Anyone who has ever delved into the vintage glamour scene of the 1960s and 70s will not need telling that they are a million miles away from their modern tacky and mind-numbingly boring counterparts! It may come as a shock and something of a pleasant surprise to some to discover that the 60s reader got a lot more for their 2/6 than the usual array of half-dressed models in soft focus. Playboy, Penthouse and our very own Mayfair magazines all reflected the times and pop culture in ways that were sadly lacking from the late-80s onwards.
Expect to find an abundance of articles written about the counterculture, politics, underground cinema, fashion and pop music within these earlier magazines. For example, in the late 60s Mayfair magazine ran at least twenty issues containing thought-provoking pieces by William Burroughs; Penthouse interviewed Germaine Greer and John & Yoko; and Playboy sought out real-life hippie chicks and groovy couples to get the lowdown on the era’s alternative lifestyles- albeit with the gradual removing of clothing. This was also the heyday of pop art: there are many examples of fantastic illustrations for articles on the hot topics of the day.
Alongside this, there were many fashion shoots involving both likely and unlikely pop and rock stars of the era. Check out symphonic pop geniuses Paul and Barry (Eloise) Ryan sporting the late 60s Mod look in one issue! In another, we found the doyen of British blues, Alexis Korner, looking suitably smug in his dandified threads alongside his female companion. There are some absolute classic adverts to be found as well, such as Peter Wyngarde’s Tabac ad!
It all adds up to a feast for fans of
